DNA
Testing
There
are two graves in situ in the ruins of Monk Bretton priory which are of
considerable interest to myself and indeed to all the Bretton family. The first
of these was disinterred from the floor of the presbytery in 1926 by Dr Walker
and is described on page 84 of “Monk Bretton Priory” published by the
Yorkshire Archeaological Society in 1926. It states :-
“In
the floor of the Presbytery are found three interments: opposite the aumbry in
the south wall was a large stone coffin without a lid which contained much red
dust and measured 5 feet 18 inches (sic) in length, 15 inches at the top and 9
inches at the foot (inside); closely
adjoining the stone coffin on its south side was one made of squared stone slabs
jointed together which contained a well preserved skeleton of a female. It is
probable that these two coffins held the remains of the founder of the priory,
Adam fitz Swane and his wife. Exactly opposite to these two coffins on the north
side of the presbytery was found a skeleton
without any coffin, of a man with (sic) very massive skull and wide lower jaw.
This may have been a much later interment in a wooden coffin which had
perished”
A
photograph of the possible coffins of the founder and his wife was facing page
84.
On
page 90 of the same book are two drawings of the coffins of Sir William Bretton
and his wife. These two graves are still visible in the ruins.
The description reads :-
“The
Chapter House was the usual place
of burial for the superiors of a monastery ; just within the entrance lie two
grave slabs, one bearing an elaborately incised floriated cross-head on a shaft
with stepped base, but no inscription, measuring 6 feet 2 and a half inches
long, 2 feet 2 inches wide at the head and 18 inches at the foot : the other 5
feet 10 inches long, 19 inches wide at the head and 16 inches at the foot bears
an incised cross with floriated head within a circle on a stepped base, on the
right side of the cross is a sword, over both shaft and sword a shield is carved
and above the shield is inscribed D.W. BRETTON (“D” stands for Dominus -
Knight). This Sir William de Bretton was son and heir to John Bretton of West
Bretton ; his father was Richard Bretton as also was his grandfather (Chart., 19
{26}).
In
1444 Sir William de Bretton gave to Thomas Haryngton, esquire, and other
trustees, certain lands and tenements in Monk Bretton which his father and
grandfather had leased to the prior and convent for a term of years. 1 Nov., 23
Hen. VI
Ib., 18 (24)
On
4th November following these trustees released to Richard ledes, prior of the
monastery of Blessed Mary of MonkBretton these same lands and tenements
Ib., 19 (25) This gift
was probably made on the understanding that the donor should be buried within
the priory walls.”
Whilst
there is still no clear unbroken link between Ailric, Swain and Adam and the present generation
of the Bretton, Britton etc etc etc families there is sufficient evidence, based
on the “balance of probabilities” (the Civil Law requirement), rather than
the more demanding “without reasonable doubt” (Criminal Law requirement) to
suggest that there might be a link between Adam fitz Swane , or Swein, Sir
William Bretton and our present generation. With the advances in DNA testing
that have taken place over the last few years it was an extremely interesting
proposition to follow up.
Accordingly
I wrote to English Heritage who have responsibility for the site at Monk Bretton
to see whether the “red dust” mentioned in the possible grave of Adam fitz
Swane had been sampled and retained. And, if so, could I, at my own expense,
arrange to have the dust (providing it was body parts) DNA tested and compared
with my own ?
I
received, very quickly, a reply from a Mr. Chris Chandler of English Heritage
National Monument Records Enquiry and Research Services (Archeaology). He gave
me a wealth of information from their records about the original excavations at
Monk Bretton in 1926 (long before English Heritage
became responsible). He told me that Sheffield Museum were named on their
records as the “Finds Keepers” for those excavations and suggested I get in
touch with them. However he held out very little hope that the “red dust” would have either been sampled or retained from that date.
I
spoke to Miss Jill Woolrich, an Archaeologist at Sheffield Museum who was again
extremely helpful. Unfortunately, however, there was no sample of Red dust in
their possession or of anything remotely like body remains.
The “Finds” in their possession were mainly window glass etc and were
only given to them some 30 years after the original excavations.
I
then informed Mr Chandler at English Heritage and told him that I still wanted
to have a DNA sample taken and asked whether English Heritage would keep such a
sample until (if it ever happened) that they might conceivably open either “Adam fitz Swain’s grave” or Sir William de Bretton’s - and then take
and compare the samples of DNA with mine. He replied stating that “this was
not what English Heritage was about”.
My intention was to provide an analysis of DNA and not an actual sample and whilst it is very doubtful whether either grave will be opened in my lifetime it would still have been of interest to future Brettons. I was extremely disappointed but hopefully will still have a DNA sample taken and send it on - whether they keep it or not. I have had several discussions with a Laboratory in East Yorkshire (where our friend Jean Heaps now works) and they are conducting a feasibility study into doing DNA testing for family history purposes. It would no doubt be of interest to John Bretton (of the Essex Brettons) some from Bristol and the Brettoners from Australia and New Zealand and maybe some other spellings as well.
The testing was done by "Family Tree DNA" (address available on the net) and I am starting a "Bretton" DNA group. It is open to anyone, Bretton, Britton, Bratton, Brittain, who feels that their name might have been derived from "Bretton" or that they are related to my branch of the family. It is proposed to be a "closed" group at the moment, ie if anyone wants to have their DNA checked against mine (and eventually each other) they can get in touch with me and I, as the group co-ordinator will OK it. They can then get in touch Family Tree DNA and take it from there. It was suggested that we approach it that way by someone who has yet to confirm he is going along with it, but DNA is going to be the way of family trees in the future and it is up to any individual to decide whether to join in or not. If anyone wants further information I'll be pleased to provide it. If there are any matches then the Bretton family history is yours as well - even if the links are lost in antiquity.